On the Radar: Arizona shooting, diplomacy, RNC and Steele, flood toll
Doctors say they see signs that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' condition is improving. Judge John Roll will be mourned Friday.
January 14th, 2011
10:10 AM ET

On the Radar: Arizona shooting, diplomacy, RNC and Steele, flood toll

Aftermath in Tucson - Doctors could remove the breathing tube for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Friday as she continues on her "miracle" journey to recovery after an assassination attempt and mass shooting, her husband said.

Giffords was shot in the head less than a week ago, but she is making progress, her husband and doctors told CNN. Her husband, Mark Kelly, told CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta that his wife is aware to some degree of what is going on around her and has the ability to move her arms and legs.

Meanwhile, a funeral Mass will be held Friday for U.S. District Judge John Roll, who was one of six people killed Saturday in the Tucson, Arizona, rampage. Media reports say more than 100 judges will attend the funeral, and security will be tight.

CNN is covering other angles in the Arizona case, including how suspect Jared Loughner "creeped out" classmates, the investigation into a bag with ammo thought to be Loughner's, whether a hero nearly shot the wrong person in the middle of the chaos and whether it is too easy to blame Arizona when looking at the tragedy.

Diplomacy in D.C. - International relations take center stage Friday in Washington.

President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet with Pakistani President Asif Zardari, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is giving a major speech on relations with China ahead of a state visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Also, a memorial service will be held at the Kennedy Center for consummate diplomat Richard Holbrooke, who died December 13. Zardari will attend.

RNC vote - It's anybody's guess which candidate will emerge as the next chairman of the Republican National Committee after a vote Friday, but RNC watchers largely agree on one thing: The reign of Michael Steele has come to an end.

Three RNC delegates confidently threw out the phrases "Steele's toast" and "Steele's done" when asked Thursday to forecast the election, and even some of Steele's most ardent supporters privately admit the outlook for him is grim. The voting at the RNC winter meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, is set to begin around 1:30 p.m. Friday and likely will continue for hours.

Flooding - Thousands of families living on mountain slopes or on river banks in Brazil face "extreme risk" of being washed away in heavy rains and flooding that have killed nearly 500 people. Officials said they fear that many more have died, been buried in landslides or been washed away by gushing waters.

Meanwhile in Sri Lanka, thousands of soldiers have launched a massive operation to rescue nearly 1 million people affected by floods in the central, north and eastern provinces. The flooding has killed at least 27 people, Sri Lanka's national news agency reported.

In Australia, the cleanup is under way after Brisbane survived its worst flooding in decades. Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said Thursday that the reconstruction task will be of "postwar proportions."

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Filed under: Arizona • Australia • Barack Obama • Brazil • Crime • Gabrielle Giffords • On the Radar • Pakistan • Sri Lanka • Weather
soundoff (11 Responses)
  1. Robert Warner

    GOP's new slogan-"Making assasination easy". They tell you who to hate and make buying a gun for assassination easier than buying beer.

    January 14, 2011 at 12:18 pm | Report abuse |
  2. myklds

    God answer our prayers, "Miracle" really happens if we have faith in Him.

    January 14, 2011 at 12:43 pm | Report abuse |
    • myklds

      answers*

      January 14, 2011 at 12:44 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Samsta

    God bless america my home sweet home.

    January 14, 2011 at 1:45 pm | Report abuse |
  4. political wack

    the truth is it was repubs way of saying we can also have a black man in charge.Now they control congress again he's expendable,sad.

    January 14, 2011 at 4:26 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Pkm

    When i heard a black man was to be in charge of the gop partyi i was hopeing the gop might make them some one to look to

    January 14, 2011 at 7:24 pm | Report abuse |
  6. onlyslightlyamused

    So long Mike Steele. Yo black a** is back out in the field, sellout!

    January 14, 2011 at 9:58 pm | Report abuse |
  7. For the record

    Another black sellout the funny thing about is that list never seems to end i say hang all the black sellouts so the real black people can stand up and do whats best for us we dont need boot lickers in our circle

    January 15, 2011 at 10:14 am | Report abuse |
  8. For the record

    When u forget that u are black the whiteman will remind you so just because u have riches like him doesnt mean u can behave like him u so black people stop forgetting who u are and u wont such problems

    January 15, 2011 at 10:32 am | Report abuse |
  9. Gluton Free

    another example as to why lil debbie needs to overthrow hostess

    January 15, 2011 at 11:35 am | Report abuse |
  10. Sri Lanka Travel

    Nice. Thanks for sharing

    December 7, 2011 at 12:06 am | Report abuse |
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